Device for filling sandbags from a source of sand

ABSTRACT

A device for filling sandbags from a source of sand having a hopper with a front, a first side, a second side, a back, a top, and a bottom. A forwardly extending chute is connected to the hopper. The hopper has a top with an input opening and a bottom with a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening. A divider pivotally attached near the bottom of the hopper can be moved to direct sand to either of the outlet openings. The device for filling sandbags can replace the broadcast spreader on a traditional roadway sanding truck or, with an option adapter, be attached either to a pick-up truck or a trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device for filling sandbags with sand and,more particularly, to such a device that can be utilized withtraditional roadway sanding trucks, pick-up trucks, and trailers.

2. Description of the Related Art

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,629 a small hopper is designed to replace thestandard broadcast spreader in a roadway sanding truck. According tolines 61 through 63 in column 1 of that patent, “The small hopper isdesigned to fit into the framework normally used to hold the broadcastspreader.” The small hopper is basically a chute with a larger openingon top and a smaller opening on the bottom. The sides of the smallhopper slant diagonally inward from top to bottom, the front and back ofthe small hopper are substantially parallel to one another, and the topof the front of the small hopper is lower than the top of the back ofthe small hopper in order to accommodate a forward extension of thechute.

The hopper of U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,178 is also designed to work with aroadway sanding truck. It is similar to the small hopper of U.S. Pat.No. 6,589,629 except that all sides of the upper portion taper outwardfrom the bottom to the top, making no two opposite sides substantiallyparallel to one another.

Although in FIG. 1, the hopper of U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,396 appears to beessentially the same shape as that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,629, lines 13and 14 in column 4 say, “As seen in FIG. 5, the hopper 50 preferably hasfour substantially trapezoidal sidewalls . . . ” Therefore, again no twoopposite walls could be substantially parallel.

In the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,640 two separate funnels operateindependently to fill sandbags but a connected adjacent to one another.

And relatively complicated machinery for filling multiple sandbags isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,215,127; 6,145,709; 6,112,956; 6,269,849;and 6,431,407.

None of the preceding devices, however, consist of a unitary hoppercontaining a pivotally mounted divider for directing the flow of sandinto a selected one of two outlets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand of the presentinvention does have an input opening to a unitary hopper with two outletopenings and a divider pivotally mounted to direct the flow of sand intowhich of the two outlet openings that an operator desires.

Furthermore, preferably, all interior surfaces have a continuousdownward slope to impede any accumulation of sand.

And, in addition to being designed and constructed to replace thebroadcast spreader on a traditional roadway sanding truck, the Devicefor Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand optionally comprises andadapter for connecting the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source ofSand to the receiver of a pick-up truck or a trailer.

Several safety feature are, moreover, incorporated into the design andconstruction of the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a lateral view from a first side of a preferred embodiment forthe Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand.

FIG. 2 presents a lateral view from a second side of the embodiment ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 constitutes a lateral view of the back of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of an adapter for a pick-up truck or trailer.

FIG. 5 is a plan view from above the adapter of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As is the case with the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,629, the Devicefor Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand 1 of the present inventionis, as observed above, designed and constructed to replace the broadcastspreader of a traditional roadway sanding truck.

The Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand 1 has a hopper 2,comprising a front 3, a first side 4, a second side 5, and a back 6, asshown for a preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 3.

An input opening 7 for the introduction of sand is located at the top 8of the hopper 2.

Two outlet openings 9, 10 are placed at the bottom 11 of the hopper 8.

The top 12 of the front 3 is lower than the top 13 of the back 5 inorder to accommodate an attached forwardly extending chute 14.

A divider 15 is, near a first end 16 of the divider, pivotally attachedto the hopper 2 (preferably, with a bushing and pivot rod connected tothe front 3 and back 6 of the hopper 2) near the bottom 11 of the hopper2 and between the first outlet opening 9 and the second outlet opening10. In order to accommodate pivoting of the divider 15, the front 3 andback 6 of the hopper 2 are substantially parallel to one another. Belowthe divider 15, the bottom 11 of the hopper 2 preferably has a raisedportion 16 with downwardly sloping surfaces 17 to avoid an accumulationof sand.

In fact, preferably, all interior surfaces 18 of the hopper 2 and theforwardly extending chute 14 slope continuously downward to avoid suchaccumulations of sand. And, even more preferably, except for the raisedportion 16 and the point 19 where the lower portion 114 of the forwardlyextending chute 14 connects to the front 3 of the hopper 2, the degreeof the slope does not change.

Near the top 20 on each side 21, 22 of the forwardly extending chute 14an upper projection 23 and a lower projection 24 preferably form achannel 25 to accommodate lips of a traditional roadway sanding truck towhich the broadcast spreader is removably attached; the channel 25enables the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand 1 to beremovably attached to such a traditional roadway sanding truck.

Preferably, the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand 1incorporates several safety features. A rear guard 26 extends upwardfrom the back 6 of the hopper 2, a first side guard 27 extends upwardfrom the first side 4 of the hopper 2, a second side guard 28 extendsupward from the second side 5 of the hopper 2, and a top guard 29extends forward from the back 6 of the hopper 2 between the first sideguard 27 and the second side guard 28 but preferably does not extendforward far enough to reach the front 3 of the hopper 2.

Preferably extending from the front 129, 30 of at least one of the sideguards 27, 28 but not extending so far as the rear 31, 32 of the sideguard 27, 28 is at least one channel 33 to accommodate a bolt forlocking the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Source of Sand 1 to atraditional roadway sanding truck. Optionally an aperture 34 in theupper projection 23 aligned with an aperture 35 in the lower projection24 can accomplish this same purpose.

Preferably, a handle 36 is attached near a second end 37 of the divider15; and, even more preferably, the handle 36 extends rearward through anarcuate channel in the rear guard 26. Also preferably, a grip 38 isattached to the handle 36 beyond the rear guard 26, the handle 36 isangled downward (preferably, 45 degrees) for convenience and safety, anda pinch guard 39 is located around the handle 36 between the grip 38 andthe rear guard 26.

Preferably, a first lifting handle 40 is attached to the outer portion41 of the first side 4 of the hopper 2; and a second lifting handle 42is attached to the outer portion 43 of the second side 5 of the hopper 2to facilitate movement and manipulation of the Device for FillingSandbags from a Source of Sand 1.

The first side 4 of the hopper 2, the second side 5 of the hopper 2, thefront 3 of the hopper 2, the back 6 of the hopper 2, the bottom 11 ofthe hopper 2, and the forwardly extending chute 14 are preferablyconstructed of 12-gauge steel. The divider 15 is preferably constructedof 7-gauge steel. And, preferably, to prevent corrosion and enhance theflow of sand, first side 4 of the hopper 2, the second side 5 of thehopper 2, the front 3 of the hopper 2, the back 6 of the hopper 2, thebottom 11 of the hopper 2, the forwardly extending chute 14, and thedivider 15 are powder coated.

Utilizing an adapter 44, the Device for Filling Sandbags from a Sourceof Sand 1 can be attached to the receiver of a pick-up truck or to thereceiver of a trailer.

The adapter 44 comprises a first horizontal beam 45 having a series ofapertures 46 near a first end 47 and a vertically oriented receiver 48near a second end 49, a vertical beam 50 having a series of apertures 51near a first end 52 that is to be inserted into the receiver 48 near thesecond end 49 of the first horizontal beam 45, and a U-shaped piece ofangle iron 53 attached to a first end 54 of a second horizontal beam 55.A second end 56 of the second horizontal beam 55 is connected (Suchconnection can be fixed or adjustable.) to the vertical beam 50. Ofcourse the placement of receivers and apertures can be anywhere thatwill allow the U-shaped piece of angle iron 53 to be adjusted verticallyand, preferably, horizontally. If desired, however, any or allconnections can be non-adjustable. The angle iron 53 then functions justas do the lips in a traditional roadway sanding truck.

As used herein, the term “substantially” indicates that one skilled inthe art would consider the value modified by such terms to be withinacceptable limits for the stated value. Also as used herein the term“preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or techniqueis more acceptable than another but not that such specified element ortechnique is a necessity.

1. A device for filling sandbags from a source of sand, which comprises:a hopper, which comprises: a front with said front having a top; a firstside; a second side; a back, said back being substantially parallel tosaid front, said back also having a top which is lower than the top ofsaid front; a top having an input opening; and a bottom having a firstoutlet opening and a second outlet opening; a forwardly extending chuteattached to the front of said hopper said forwardly extending chutehaving a first side, a second side, and a top; and a divider, saiddivider having a first end and a second end, with said divider beingpivotally attached near a first end of said divider to said hopper nearthe bottom of said hopper between the first outlet opening and thesecond outlet opening.
 2. The device for filling sandbags from a sourceof sand as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a means for attachingsaid forwardly extending chute and said hopper to a source of sand. 3.The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited inclaim 2, further comprising: a means for locking said forwardlyextending chute and said hopper to a source of sand.
 4. The device forfilling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: a handle attached to said divider near the second end ofsaid divider.
 5. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sandas recited in claim 4, further comprising: a first upper projectionattached to the first side of said forwardly extending chute near thetop of said forwardly extending chute; a first lower projection attachedto the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top ofsaid forwardly extending chute, said first lower projection forming achannel with said first upper projection and the first side of saidforwardly extending chute; a second upper projection attached to thesecond side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of saidforwardly extending chute; and a second lower projection attached to thesecond side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of saidforwardly extending chute, said second lower projection forming achannel with said second upper projection and the second side of saidforwardly extending chute.
 6. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 5, further comprising: an adapter,which comprises: a first horizontal beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end; a vertically oriented receiver near a second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the verticalbeam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beam having a first endand a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beamconnected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece of angle ironattached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.
 7. The devicefor filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 5,further comprising: a rear guard extending upward from the back of saidhopper and containing an arcuate channel, wherein said handle extendsrearward through the arcuate channel in said rear guard; a first sideguard extending upward from the first side of said hopper; a second sideguard extending upward from the second side of said hopper, said secondside guard having a front and a rear and containing a channel extendingfrom the front of said second side guard but not extending so far as therear of said second side guard; and a top guard extending forward fromthe back of said hopper between said first side guard and said secondside guard.
 8. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 7, further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 9. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 7, wherein: all interior surfaces ofsaid hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuouslydownward.
 10. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 9, further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 11. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 9, wherein: the first side of saidhopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, theback of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extendingchute, and said divider are powder coated.
 12. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 11 furthercomprising: an adapter, which comprises: a first horizontal beam havinga series of apertures near a first end; a vertically oriented receivernear a second end of the first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having aseries of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the firstend of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver nearthe second end of the first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beamhaving a first end and a second end with the second end of the secondhorizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece ofangle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam. 13.The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited inclaim 7, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side of saidhopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom ofsaid hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powdercoated.
 14. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 13 further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 15. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 5, wherein: all interior surfaces ofsaid hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuouslydownward.
 16. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 15 further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 17. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 15, wherein: the first side of saidhopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, theback of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extendingchute, and said divider are powder coated.
 18. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 17 furthercomprising: an adapter, which comprises: a first horizontal beam havinga series of apertures near a first end; a vertically oriented receivernear a second end of the first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having aseries of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the firstend of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver nearthe second end of the first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beamhaving a first end and a second end with the second end of the secondhorizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece ofangle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam. 19.The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited inclaim 5, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side of saidhopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom ofsaid hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powdercoated.
 20. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 19 further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 21. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a rear guardextending upward from the back of said hopper and containing an arcuatechannel, wherein said handle extends rearward through the arcuatechannel in said rear guard; a first side guard extending upward from thefirst side of said hopper; a second side guard extending upward from thesecond side of said hopper, said second side guard having a front and arear and containing a channel extending from the front of said secondside guard but not extending so far as the rear of said second sideguard; and a top guard extending forward from the back of said hopperbetween said first side guard and said second side guard.
 22. The devicefor filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 21,wherein: all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardlyextending chute slope continuously downward.
 23. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 22, wherein: thefirst side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front ofsaid hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, saidforwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.
 24. Thedevice for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim21, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side of saidhopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom ofsaid hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powdercoated.
 25. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 4, wherein: all interior surfaces of said hopper andsaid forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.
 26. Thedevice for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim25, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side of saidhopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom ofsaid hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powdercoated.
 27. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 4, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the secondside of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper,the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and saiddivider are powder coated.
 28. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a first upperprojection attached to the first side of said forwardly extending chutenear the top of said forwardly extending chute; a first lower projectionattached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near thetop of said forwardly extending chute, said first lower projectionforming a channel with said first upper projection and the first side ofsaid forwardly extending chute; a second upper projection attached tothe second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of saidforwardly extending chute; and a second lower projection attached to thesecond side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of saidforwardly extending chute, said second lower projection forming achannel with said second upper projection and the second side of saidforwardly extending chute.
 29. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 28 further comprising: an adapter,which comprises: a first horizontal beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end; a vertically oriented receiver near a second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the verticalbeam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beam having a first endand a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beamconnected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece of angle ironattached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.
 30. The devicefor filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 28,further comprising: a rear guard extending upward from the back of saidhopper; a first side guard extending upward from the first side of saidhopper; a second side guard extending upward from the second side ofsaid hopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear andcontaining a channel extending from the front of said second side guardbut not extending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and atop guard extending forward from the back of said hopper between saidfirst side guard and said second side guard.
 31. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 30 furthercomprising: an adapter, which comprises: a first horizontal beam havinga series of apertures near a first end; a vertically oriented receivernear a second end of the first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having aseries of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the firstend of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver nearthe second end of the first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beamhaving a first end and a second end with the second end of the secondhorizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece ofangle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam. 32.The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited inclaim 30, wherein: all interior surfaces of said hopper and saidforwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.
 33. The devicefor filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 32,further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: a first horizontal beamhaving a series of apertures near a first end; a vertically orientedreceiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam; a vertical beamhaving a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam withthe first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into thereceiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam; a secondhorizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second endof the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and aU-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the secondhorizontal beam.
 34. The device for filling sandbags from a source ofsand as recited in claim 32, wherein: the first side of said hopper, thesecond side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of saidhopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, andsaid divider are powder coated.
 35. The device for filling sandbags froma source of sand as recited in claim 34 further comprising: an adapter,which comprises: a first horizontal beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end; a vertically oriented receiver near a second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having a series of aperturesnear a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the verticalbeam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end ofthe first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beam having a first endand a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beamconnected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece of angle ironattached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.
 36. The devicefor filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 30,wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper,the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of saidhopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powdercoated.
 37. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 36 further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 38. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 28, wherein: all interior surfaces ofsaid hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuouslydownward.
 39. The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand asrecited in claim 38 further comprising: an adapter, which comprises: afirst horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end; avertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontalbeam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end ofthe vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available forinsertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontalbeam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end withthe second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the verticalbeam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end ofthe second horizontal beam.
 40. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 38, wherein: the first side of saidhopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, theback of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extendingchute, and said divider are powder coated.
 41. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 40 furthercomprising: an adapter, which comprises: a first horizontal beam havinga series of apertures near a first end; a vertically oriented receivernear a second end of the first horizontal beam; a vertical beam having aseries of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the firstend of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver nearthe second end of the first horizontal beam; a second horizontal beamhaving a first end and a second end with the second end of the secondhorizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece ofangle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam. 42.The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited inclaim 28, wherein: the first side of said hopper, the second side ofsaid hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, thebottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said dividerare powder coated.
 43. The device for filling sandbags from a source ofsand as recited in claim 42 further comprising: an adapter, whichcomprises: a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near afirst end; a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the firsthorizontal beam; a vertical beam having a series of apertures near afirst end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beamavailable for insertion into the receiver near the second end of thefirst horizontal beam; a second horizontal beam having a first end and asecond end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connectedto the vertical beam; and a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to thefirst end of the second horizontal beam.
 44. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: a rear guard extending upward from the back of said hopper;a first side guard extending upward from the first side of said hopper;a second side guard extending upward from the second side of saidhopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear and containinga channel extending from the front of said second side guard but notextending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and a top guardextending forward from the back of said hopper between said first sideguard and said second side guard.
 45. The device for filling sandbagsfrom a source of sand as recited in claim 44, wherein: all interiorsurfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slopecontinuously downward.
 46. The device for filling sandbags from a sourceof sand as recited in claim 45, wherein: the first side of said hopper,the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back ofsaid hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute,and said divider are powder coated.
 47. The device for filling sandbagsfrom a source of sand as recited in claim 44, wherein: the first side ofsaid hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper,the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardlyextending chute, and said divider are powder coated.
 48. The device forfilling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 1, wherein:all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chuteslope continuously downward.
 49. The device for filling sandbags from asource of sand as recited in claim 48, wherein: the first side of saidhopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, theback of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extendingchute, and said divider are powder coated.
 50. The device for fillingsandbags from a source of sand as recited in claim 1, wherein: the firstside of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of saidhopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, saidforwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.